Ice cubing machine

ABSTRACT

An ice cubing machine designed to produce ice cubes from large blocks of ice stacked within a carriage which is made to move in a reciprocating motion beneath a rotating gang of saws. Upon initial movement of the carriage, the blocks are moved upwardly a distance equal to the size of the cubes desired. The ice is then scored in one direction as the carriage first moves under the saws, and in another direction perpendicular to the first as the carriage is rotated and returns for movement again under the saws. A horizontally rotating cutting blade severs the cubes which have been scored at the end of the carriage return movement. Before the carriage again begins movement beneath the gang saws, the stacked blocks are made to move upwards to repeat the cubing cycle.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Thomas Frank Hall 504 Downing St.,New Smyrna Beach, Fla. 32069 [2]] Appl. No. 789,189 [22] Filed Jan.6,1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [54] ICE CUBING MACHINE 7 Claims, 23Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 143/38, 83/41 1, 125/13, 299/15 [51] Int. Cl B27b 5/02 [50]Field ofSearch 143/38.l, 38;83/408,41l (A); 125/12, 13; 299/15 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,968 1938 Uline l43/38x2,299,261 1942 Turner et al. l43/38x 3,368,543 2/1968 Ronzani ABSTRACT:An ice cubing machine designed to produce ice cubes from large blocks ofice stacked within a carriage which is made to move in a reciprocatingmotion beneath a rotating gang of saws. Upon initial movement of thecarriage, the blocks are moved upwardly a distance equal to the size ofthe' cubes desired. The ice is then scored in one direction as thecarriage first moves under the saws, and in another directionperpendicular to the first as the carriage is rotated and returns formovement again under the saws. A horizontally rotating cutting bladesevers the cubes which have been scored at the end of the carriagereturn movement. Before the carriage again begins movement beneath thegang saws, the stacked I blocks are made to move upwards to repeat thecubing cycle.

Patented Marchl6, 1971 3,570,563

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THOMAS FRANK HALL BY Maw 64 M d/4Z2 ATTORNEYSPatented March 16, 1911 s She ets-Sheet 2 Patented March 16, 1971 6Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllll Patented March 16, 1971 6 Sheetsheet L PatentedMarch 16, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.|2A

Patented March 16, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ICE CUBH IG MACHINE Thisinvention relates generally to a block cutting machine and moreparticularly to a machine for producing ice cubes from relatively largeblocks of ice.

Many of the machines for this purpose fail to satisfy the requirementsof safety and efficiency because the hands of the operator are usuallyexposed to the cutting saws while manually performing various tasksthroughout the cubing operation. Although the axis of the saw shafts inmany of these machines are stationary during the cutting sequence suchdevices are usually designed for downward movement of the ice blocksagainst the rotating saw blades under the force of gravity. Accordingly,the turning and cutoff operations for scoring and severing the cubes areslow and cumbersome. An object of the present invention, therefore, isto provide an ice cubing machine with increased operational speed,greater economy, and fully automatic after being initially loaded withthe ice blocks to be cubed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice cubing machinewherein the large blocks of ice are passed beneath a gang of rotatingsaws thereby greatly simplifying the cubing operating over prior artdevices.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide an ice cubingmachine of the character described wherein a movable carriage isprovided for containing stacked blocks of ice which are moved upwardly adistance equal to the desired ice cube size before being scored in twodirections by passing beneath a gang of overhead scoring saws.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice cubingmachine of the type described wherein the carriage is made toreciprocate beneath the scoring saws along a horizontal pass and is madeto turn 90 degrees at each end of its moving path so that the ice blockscontained within the carriage may be scored in directions perpendicularto each other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an icecubing machine as described whereby upward movement of the ice blockstakes place at the start of each ice cubing cycle before the initialscoring operation begins without the need for any manual adjustments orrefinements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice cubingmachine which is reliable, easy to operate, simple in its constructionand operation, and of relatively few moving parts thereby reducingmaintenance time to a minimum.

In summarizing the invention, it will be seen that the ice cubingapparatus according to the instant design comprises a series or gang ofscoring saws of the circular type mounted on a single shaft and spacedapart in accordance with the desired dimension of the cubes in bothlateral directions, the single shaft being mounted at the top of theapparatus frame approximately equidistant between its ends. At one endof the frame a drive motor is mounted for reciprocating a carriagebetween the ends of the frame along a horizontal path by means of a pairof endless drive chains. A cutoff saw blade is mounted near the otherend of the frame and the carriage, which contains a block or blocks ofice extending upwards therethrough, rests on a pair of rails directlybeneath the cutoff saw blade when the apparatus is at rest and beforebeing set into motion. A loading platform near the said other end of theframe facilitates loading of the ice blocks into the carriage. When thedrive motor, gang saws, and cutoff blade are actuated, the carriage ismade to travel toward the gang saws as its wheels roll along thehorizontally disposed rails. Before reaching the scoring blades, the iceblock is automatically raised, by means of a ratchet and pawl device onthe carriage, an increment equal to the desired ice cube dimension. Thecarriage then passes beneath the scoring blades for scoring the iceblock in one direction. The carriage is thereafter made to turn 180about its fixed baseplate when it reaches one end of its horizontaltravel and, upon returning toward the gang saws, the ice block is scoredin a direction at right angles to the first scoring lines thereby givinga second dimension to the ice cubes to be formed. As the carriagecontinues on its travels toward the said other end of the frame, thecutoff saw blade severs the top of the ice block thereby forming a layerof ice cubes from the block when the carriage completely passes beneaththe forward cutting edge of the cutoff blade, it is made to once againturn to the position to which it initially assumed while at rest.Because the drive motor continues to move the endless chains, thecarriage once again travels toward the scoring saws and, once again,before being scored in a first direction, the ice blocks are made toincrementally elevate as the level of the ratchet and pawl device ismoved as above described for the first cycle of operation.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention, inaddition to those aforementioned, will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the invention when considered inconjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the ice cubing machine showing the carriagewhile it rests before being loaded with an ice block or blocks, the icechute being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus viewed along line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showingthe drive means for reciprocating the carriage along a horizontal path;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the carriageturntable or bearing plate in its position before being turned FIG. 4Ais a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the turntable after it has beenturned 180 at the end of its horizontal travel;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the iceblock supporting plate in its relation to the carriage frame;

FIG. 6 is a plan view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 2 showing a slightlymovable bar for firmly holding'the ice block within the carriage framewhile undergoing its cubing operation;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken at line 77 of FIG. 2 showing the cutoff sawblade in detail;

FIG. 7A is an end view of the cutoff saw blade unit showing a cutoutposition for venting snow produced by the blade;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view taken at line 8-8 of FIG. I showing thedetails of the gang of scoring saws;

FIG. 9 is slightly enlarged view showing the ratchet and pawl devicemounted near the bottom end of the carriage for incrementally raisingthe ice block supporting plate;

FIG. III is a schematic showing of the carriage while at rest justbefore the cubing operation is begun;

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing of the carriage after the ice block hasbeen incrementally raised and just before passing beneath the gang ofscoring saws;

FIG. I2 is a schematic showing the carriage after the ice block has beenscored in one direction and the carriage turned 180 as it reaches theforward end of its horizontal travel;

FIG. I3 is a schematic showing the carriage on its return travel towardthe gang of scoring saws and in the process of being scored in adirection at right angles to the first scoring direction;

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing the carriage in the process of passingbeneath the, cutoff saws showing the cutoff blade severing a top layerfrom the ice block thereby forming ice cubes;

FIG. 15 is a schematic showing the carriage at the end of the completecubing cycle and just before the carriage is made to turn 90 to beginanother cubing cycle; and

FIGS. 10A and ISA are top plan views of the carriage shown in FIGS. I0through 15, respectively.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer tolike and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the completeassembly of the ice cubing machine according to the instant design isshown in FIG. I wherein a skeleton frame 20 is provided for theapparatus comprising a pair of top frame members 21, sides 22, and abottom 23 constructed in a form of angle-irons or any other suitabledesign. A series or gang of scoring saws 2&5 with its accompanying motor25 is mounted on the top frame members approximately equidistant betweenside frame members 22. A carriage drive motor 26 is also mounted on thetop frame members 21 at one end of the frame 20, and a motor 28, fordriving a cutoff saw blade 27 is mounted on top frame members 21 nearthe other end of the frame 20.

Other operating components such as, for example, switch box 29 aremounted on the top frame members 21 for powering motors 25, 26 and 28. Acarriage, generally indicated by reference numeral 31, is shown at itsposition of rest in the apparatus frame 20 at a location beneath thecutoff saw blade 27. The carriage 31; comprises a generally boxlikeskeleton frame having a pair of uprights 32, 22, shown more clearly inFIG. 5, in angular relation at the forward end of the carriage, and apair of uprights 34 at the rearward end of the carriage. Also at theforward end of the carriage (see FIG. 2) may be any number of structuralmembers 35, 36. The rearward end of the carriage is entirely open alongits entire height so as to allow insertion of the ice block or blocks(not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) onto an ice block supporting platform 37.As can be seen, the platform 37 is channel-shaped in cross sectionhaving dependent legs 38 along its forward and rearward sides for thepurpose of stabilizing the plate within the boxlike carriage structure.Four upright bars 38, square in cross section (FIG. are provided nearthe corners of plates 32, 33 and at the rearward side of the plates 34so that the supporting platform 37, having cutouts 39 in the vicinity ofthe uprights 38, may be stabilized as the supporting plate is raised andlowered within the carriage. The platform 37 is supported longitudinallyon a rod member 41 secured at either end to an endless chain 42 providedat both sides of the carriage. Each chain 42 extends about sprocketwheels 45, 46, mounted for rotation on axle bars 47, 48, respectively,between top crossplates 43 and bottom crossplates 44. Fine adjustmentscrews 40 may also be provided on the uprights 34 for tensioning chains42 when needed.

A ratchet wheel 49 is secured to the lower axle bar 48, more clearlyshown in FIG. 9 of the drawing. Also, a reciprocating lever 51, and anintegrally attached pawl device 52, for communicating motion, ispivotally secured about the axle bar 48. A pawl member 53, forpreventing backward motion of the ratchet wheel 49 in the normal manneris attached to the bottom crossplate 44 (see FIG. 2). Accordingly, thesupport platform 37 may be manually raised by moving lever 51 leftwardfor rotating the ratchet wheel 49 counterclockwise as the pawl member 52engages with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The axle bar 48 isaccordingly rotated and the attached supporting platform moved upward.The pawl 52 lies within a tubular support 52a so that a coil spring (notshown) may be provided within the tube for urging the pawl toward theratchet wheel. The supporting platform 37 may also be lowered manuallyby pulling up on the pawl 52 thereby allowing the axle bar 48 to rotateclockwise as the force of gravity pulls the platfonn 37 downward.

For the purpose of loading ice blocks into the apparatus, a loadingplatform 54 is slideably secured to a pair of loading uprights 55attached to the upright members 22. Also, a cable 56 and a winch handle57, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided for raising the loading platform 54from the ground level to the position shown above ground level.Accordingly, heavy ice blocks may be easily slid onto the platform 37simply by placing them on platform 54 and adjusting the two platformsmanually to a common elevation; A platform 58, hinged on platform 54 asat 59, may also be provided to simplify the loading operation. In orderto move the platform 58 out of the way after the cubing operation hasbegun, a pair of arms 61, having longitudinal slots therein, areprovided between platforms 54, 58. 7

At the top of the carriage 33, a crossbar 62 is mounted between brackets63 (see FIG. 6) so that when the ice block extends upwardly through thecarriage, as shown in FIG. Ill, it will be held firmly against uprights33 of the carriage during the entire cubing operation. The crossbar 62can be moved inwardly by means of a pair of rods 64 each secured at oneend to the bar 62. Cables 65, attached to the other end of rods 64, bearagainst suitable rollers 66. The cables 65 are secured at their otherends to a locking means 67 on the upright 32 capable of beingmanipulated simply by pulling locking arm 68 downwardly and therebymoving crossbar 62 toward the ice block.

The skeleton frame of the carriage 31 is supported on a bearing plate 69(see FIG. 2) which is supported by rollers 71 mounted in theconventional manner within a stationary base plate 72. Near the forwardend rearward ends of the base plate 72, a pair of wheels 73 are providedso that the carriage may be moved along a horizontal path on a pair ofrails 74 secured along the bottom frame members 23. A center pin 75 issecured at one end to the bearing plate 69 through a circular stiffeningplate 76 and extends downwardly through the base plate 72, as clearlyshown in FIG. 2. A center pin housing 78, having a rotating arm 79, iskeyed to the center pin 75 (not shown) so thatupon movement of therotating arm 79, the bearing plate 69 will accordingly rotate along withthe remainder of carriage 31 supported thereon. To the underside ofbaseplate 72, a hydraulic cylinder 81 having a piston arm 83 is affixedby means of a bracket 82, the cylinder piston arm 83 being pivotallyattached at one end to the rotating arm 79. Also, a pump device 84 ismounted to one side of the baseplate 72 and a pump lever 85 is providedon the pump for delivering hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic linesto the cylinder 81 upon movement thereof. It should be noted thathydraulic lines 90 are shown broken away in FIGS. 4, 4A for purposes ofclarity. Accordingly, when the lever 85 is moved to its position shownin FIGS. 4A and 12, hydraulic fluid is ported to the cylinder 81 vialines 90, so that piston arm 83 is extended out of the cylinder forrotating arm 79, thereby rotating the supported carriage. In order tomove lever 85 in such a manner, a first actuating rod 86 secured to therearward end of the frame 20 on the upright 22 a distance above themachine floor so that it may depress lever 85 when the carriage is movedto the rearward end of the frame, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.Also, an actuating arm 87 is pro- .vided at a similar elevation at theforward end of the frame 20 in the path of lever 51. Therefore, as thecarriage 31 is moved past the plate 88, the lever 51 makes contact withrod 89 (see FIG. 11) whereupon the lever 51 and ratchet wheel 49 aremoved counterclockwise, by means of pawl 52 in engagement with theratchet wheel, and the ice block supporting platform 37 is accordinglymoved upwards a short distance. The

amount of upward movement depends, of course, upon the degree of ratchetrotation such that, for the desired upward movement of the ice blocksupporting platform 37, the location of rod 89 may be varied alongelongated slot 91 of the plate 88 so that the lever 51 may be rotatedthroughout any desired arc. A stop bar 92 is provided on upright 32 ofthe carriage and a coil spring 93 is also provided thereon and attachedat one end to the lever arm 51 so that as the carriage passes by theside plate 88, the coil spring 93 will return the lever 51 against stopbar 92.

The carriage 31 is reciprocated on the rails 74 by means of drive motor26 and an endless chain 94 disposed vertically between the motor Ztianda sprocket 95 mounted on an axle bar 96 located on one of the rails 74as cleariy shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Reciprocating movement ofthe carriage if produced by another endless chain 97 (see FIG. 3)horizontally disposed between the sprocket 95 and a sprocket 98 locatedon rail 24 toward the rearward end of the frame 20. A pair of chainlinks 99a, 9% are provided on the chain 97 extending laterally from bothsides thereof in contact, respec tively, with legs IbZa, I02b of bracketI01 affixed to the underside of the baseplate 72. Accordingly, as thechain 97 is driven counterclockwise, the carriage is driven leftwardtoward the rear of the frame 20, as shown in FIG. 3, as chain link 99abears against its adjacent leg 102a. It should be noted that thepresence of two of such links 99a, 99b merely acts to stabilize thelinks within the legs of bracket Illl because, as clearly shown in FIG.it), after the carriage is moved to its most rearward position,continued movement of the chain W permits links 99a and 9% to changedirections whereby link 99;: will now bear against leg 1021; (see FIG.Ill. thereby moving the carriage in a forward direction as shown by thearrow.

As mentioned above, a first set of scoring lines are produced as the iceblock I is moved forwardly. The scoring saw 24 for this purpose (seeFIG. 8) consists of a series of gang or scoring saws 103 of the circulartype mounted on a single shaft I04 and spaced apart by spacers 105 of adimension equal to the desired dimension of the resulting cubes to beproduced.

The cutoff saw blade 27 (see FIG. 7) is mounted on a single shaft 106for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the scoringblades of shade 104. A plate 107 is provided between the blade 27 and achute 108 so that, as the cutoff blade rotates in the direction of thearrow (see also FIGS. 16, 14A), the top layer of scored ice cubes willbe severed and be thereafter directed toward chute I08. As shown in FIG.2, an upwardly extending rim I09 is provided on the plate 107 so as toinsure that all of the ice cubes 0 be directed toward the chute 108 andinto a suitable collecting container or bag.

In order to eliminate or provide a vent for the buildup of snow producedby blade 27 during the cutoff operation, it should be noted that theupstanding rim 109 is cut out or notched as at I10 (FIG. 7A) forallowing the snow to be discharged therethrough as the blade 27revolves. In this way, the ice cubes are free of any accumulation ofsnow before being discharged toward chute I198. Also, it should be notedthat notch 1110 may be of any desired height less than the height ofcubes 0 plus the thickness of blade 27 thereby avoiding the possibilityof cubes 0 being discharged before reaching the chute I08.

In order to more fully understand the invention, the steps involved inthe ice cubing operation will be explained starting with FIG. 10 whereinan ice block I is shown loaded within the carriage 3i on platform 37 andmade to extend upwardly out of the top of the carriage and abuttingagainst the underside of cutoff blade 27. Ice block I may be manuallyextended to the position of FIG. 10 before commencing the cubingoperation or, FIG. 10 may be looked upon as representing a larger iceblock than shown which has already been cut into ice cubes as to behereinafter explained. In any event, the ice block is held firmly withinthe carriage frame structure by means of crossbar 62 bearing against therearward side of the ice after the locking lever 68 has been properlymanipulated as described earlier. The carriage 31 is brought to theposition of FIG. III by actuating the drive motor 26 so that chain link99a, in bearing against leg 1920 of bracket I02, will have moved thecarriage to its initial starting position. It should be noted that thepump lever $5 in this position is directed to the right whereupon thecylinder arm 8 3 is retracted, as shown. Motors 25 and 28 are nowactuated for starting rotation of the scoring saw blades and cutoff sawblade, respectively, so that as the carriage is moved toward the scoringblades, as shown in FIG. II, the reciprocating lever SI. on the carriagewill make contact with rod 89 and be moved leftward as shown in FIG. II.Accordingly, platform 37 will be incrementally raised upwardly adistance desired for the depth of the ice cube to be produced. As theblock I passes beneath the scoring blades I03, a first set of scoringlines are produced and, simultaneously therewith, the coil spring 93,attached to the lever 51, returns the lever to initial position whilethe ratchet is held from backward movement by pawl 53. Of course, thelink 99a, bearing against leg ltl2b is responsible for moving thecarriage toward its forward direction, as shown. When the carriagereaches the end of its horizontal path in the forward direction, pumplever 35 is moved into contact with actuating arm $7 whereupon hydraulicfluid is ported by the pump $1: through hydraulic lines 96 and to thecylinder 81 thereby extending the cylinder arm 83 outwardly as shown inFIG. I2. The bearing plate 69 is accordingly rotated as cylinder arm 83rotates arm 79 throughout an arc of 90 from its position to FIG. 4 tothat of FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. 12, chain links 99a and 9% are movedto a vertically related position within the bracket 101 so as to preventcontinued forward motion of the carriage upon contact of arm 87 andlever 85. It should be noted that the carriage in this FIG. is shownafter it has been rotated 180 in the direction of the arrow.

Since the carriage 31 has been constructed rectangular in cross sectionto accommodate a similarly shaped ice block I, the long direction of thecarriage is parallel the horizontal path of movement after being turnedas in FIG. 12. The carriage is then moved rearwardly beneath the scoringsaw blades I03 as the chain link 9% bears against leg 102a, as clearlyshown in FIG. 13, whereupon a second set of scoring lines is cut atright angles to the first set (see FIG. 130). As the carriage 31continues its rearward movement toward cutoff saw blade 27, actuatingarm 51 will be on the forward end of the carriage out of interferencewith side plate 88. Rearward carriage movement brings the scored iceblock into contact with the blade 27 which cuts off the top layer of iceblock I at the bottom of the scoring lines thereby delivering a quantityof small ice cubes 0 down the chute I08 as-shown in FIG. 14a. After theice block passes completely through the cutoff blade 27, it will reachits position of FIG. 15 whereupon chain links 99b, 99a are again in avertically disposed relation thereby preventing further rearwardcarriage movement. In this position, the pump lever 85 is moved toward aforward direction as it is contacted by actuating arm 86, as clearlyshown, thereby allowing hydraulic fluid to return to the pump in anormal manner through hydraulic lines 94). Accordingly, the carriage 31will again be rotated back to its initial position of FIG. 10 as thecylinder arm 83 is retracted and arm 79 and bearing plate 69 arereturned to their position of FIG. 4. The entire cubing operation willthereafter once again commence as above described.

Another refinement. in the instant design resides in the provision ofthe stabilizing means for the ice cubes as they are being formed by thecutoff blade 27. Such a means consists of a plurality of finger platesIII secured at one end to a rod 112 which is mounted on top framemembers 21 between its ends as clearly shown in FIG. 7. In this way,further insurance is provided for maintaining the severed ice cubeswithin plate 107 while being directed toward chute I08. Also, in orderto maintain a safe distance of the fingers III above the blade 27, aprojection lid is provided on the rod I12 for bearing against a stopmember 113 on the top frame 21 as shown in FIG. 7.

It should be recognized that, although a single ice block I has beenshown in 'the drawings, any number of smaller ice blocks can be loadedinto the carriage and any size ice block can beintroduced into thecubing operation of the instant design depending on the cross-sectionalshape of the carriage 3i and the depth of the icecube between the crossbar 62 and the upright 33. It should be also recognized that thesprockets 9% and must be located on one of the rails 74 so that the pumplever 85 and actuating arms 86; and 87 may make contact exactly at bothends of the horizontal path of the carriage.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that an ice cubing machine has beendesigned which is fully automatic after the ice blocks have beeninitially loaded within the carriage of the apparatus. Also, such amachine is significantly more reliable than the prior art devicesbecause the scoring blades and cutoff blade are mounted above the iceblock which passes thereunder which enhances ease in turning of the iceblock and carriage along with other safety advantages which are notpresent in the gravity type ice block cutting machines.

Gbviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim: 1. A machine for cutting blocks of ice into substantiallyuniform cubes comprising:

a frame; a carriage supported on said frame, said carriage including; ahorizontally disposed baseplate, a bearing plate on said baseplate,bearing means between said base and bearing plates and a center pin onsaid bearing plate whereby said carriage may be turned relative to saidbaseplate; means for reciprocating said carriage along a horizontal pathwithin said frame; a pair of rails mounted on said frame parallel tosaid horizontal path; wheels provided on said carriage for supportingsaid carriage on said frame; said reciprocating means comprising;

a bracket on said carriage having a pair of spaced-apart legs dependingfrom said carriage perpendicular to said horizontal path,

drive chain means on said frame comprising a first and second sprocketadjacent said rails mounted for rotation about an axis transverse tosaid horizontal path and being located at one end of said frame and nearthe other end of said frame, respectively, a first endless chain locatedabout said first and second sprockets,

a drive motor on said frame for driving said chain means, said chainmeans further comprising a second endless chain located between saiddrive motor and said second sprocket, and

link means on said chain means positioned between said legs and bearingagainst one of said legs nearest said one end of said frame for movingsaid carriage toward said one end, and bearing against the other of saidlegs for moving said carriage toward the other end of said frame throughsaid drive motor;

means on said carriage for supporting ice blocks therewithin andextending up through the top of said carriage, comprising a third andfourth endless chain and a horizontally disposed lift plate secured atboth ends to said third and fourth chains;

cooperating means on both said carriage and said frame for incrementallyraising said support means comprismg;

a ratchet wheel on said carriage connected to one end of said third andfourth chains;

a reciprocating lever pivotally mounted on said ratchet wheel;

a pawl for communicating motion secured to said lever,

a pawl for preventing backward motion secured to said carriage, and

a side plate on said frame having an inwardly extending rod mountedthereon whereby said reciprocating lever may be pivoted a certaindistance as said rod makes contact therewith when said carriage passesby said side plate, thereby rotating said ratchet wheel a certain degreeand lifting said plate, said rod being mounted through a verticalelongated slot in said side plate for permitting adjustment of said rodalong said slot, whereby said reciprocating lever may be pivoted agreater distance for rotating said ratchet wheel a greater degree,

a gang of scoring saws on said frame projecting into said horizontalpath and mounted above said carriage for rotation about an axistransverse to said horizontal path;

a cutoff saw blade near said one end of said frame, mounted above saidcarriage for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said horizontalpath, and

turning means including,

hydraulic pump means on said plate,

a rotating arm on said center pin, and

hydraulic cylinder means on said baseplate connected to said pump means,said cylinder means having a piston arm which is connected to saidrotating arm whereby movement of said piston arm by actuation of saidpump turns said center pin and said attached bearing plate, said meansturning said carriage about an axis parallel to said cutoff blade axisat each end of said horizontal path whereby the ice block may be scoredin one direction, rotate, and be scored in a direction at rignt anglesto the said one scoring direction as said carriage passes beneath saidscoring blades, and further rotate after said cutoff blade severs theice thereby forming ice cubes.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein a horizontally disposedactuating arm is provided on said frame at said one and said other endthereof, said pump including a hydraulic lever arm for actuating saidpump as said lever arm contacts either of said actuating arms when saidcarriage is moved to either end of its horizontal path.

' 3. The machine according to claim 2 further including means on saidcarriage for holding said ice blocks firmly within said carriage.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein said holding meanscomprises a movable rod horizontally mounted to said carriage top, cablemeans for moving said rod and lock means for locking said rod againstsaid ice blocks.

5. The machine according to claim 3, wherein an ice chute is providedfor said cutoff saw blade for directing the ice cubes formed by saidcutoff saw blade away from the machine.

6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein means are provided on saidframe above said cutoff blade for stabilizing the formed ice cubes onsaid cutoff blade during the process of being severed.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein said stabilizing meanscomprises a plurality of finger plates pivotally mounted at one end onsaid frame.

1. A machine for cutting blocks of ice into substantially uniform cubescomprising: a frame; a carriage supported on said frame, said carriageincluding; a horizontally disposed baseplate, a bearing plate on saidbaseplate, bearing means between said base and bearing plates and acenter pin on said bearing plate whereby said carriage may be turnedrelative to said baseplate; means for reciprocating said carriage alonga horizontal path within said frame; a pair of rails mounted on saidframe parallel to said horizontal path; wheels provided on said carriagefor supporting said carriage on said frame; said reciprocating meanscomprising; a bracket on said carriage having a pair of spaced-apartlegs depending from said carriage perpendicular to said horizontal path,drive chain means on said frame comprising a first and second sprocketadjacent said rails mounted for rotation about an axis transverse tosaid horizontal path and being located at one end of said frame and nearthe other end of said frame, respectively, a first endless chain locatedabout said first and second sprockets, a drive motor on said frame fordriving said chain means, said chain means further comprising a secondendless chain located between said drive motor and said second sprocket,and link means on said chain means positioned between said legs andbearing against one of said legs nearest said one end of said frame formoving said carriage toward said one end, and bearing against the otherof said legs for moving said carriage toward the other end of said framethrough said drive motor; means on said carriage for supporting iceblocks therewithin and extending up through the top of said carriage,comprising a third and fourth endless chain and a horizontally disposedlift plate secured at both ends to said third and fourth chains;cooperating means on both said carriage and said frame for incrementallyraising said support means comprising; a ratchet wheel on said carriageconnected to one end of said third and fourth chains; a reciprocatinglever pivotally mounted on said ratchet wheel; a pawl for communicatingmotion secured to said lever, a pawl for preventing backward motionsecured to said carriage, and a side plate on said frame having aninwardly extending rod mounted thereon whereby said reciprocating levermay be pivoted a certain distance as said rod makes contact therewithwhen said carriage passes by said side plate, thereby rotating saidratchet wheel a certain degree and lifting said plate, said rod beingmounted through a vertical elongated slot in said side plate forpermitting adjustment of said rod along said slot, whereby saidreciprocating lever may be pivoted a greater distance for rotating saidratchet wheel a greater degree, a gang of scoring saws on said frameprojecting into said horizontal path and mounted above said carriage forrotation about an axis transverse to said horizontal path; a cutoff sawblade near said one end of said frame, mounted above said carriage forrotation about an axis perpendicular to said horizontal path, andturning means including, hydraulic pump means on said plate, a rotatingarm on said center pin, and hydraulic cylinder means on said baseplateconnected to said pump means, said cylinder means having a piston armwhich is connected to said rotating arm whereby movement of said pistonarm by actuation of said pump turns said center pin and said attachedbearing plate, said means turning said carriage 90* about an axisparallel to said cutoff blade axis at each end of said horizontal pathwhereby the ice block may be scored in one direction, rotate, and bescored in a direction at rignt angles to the said one scoring directionas said carriage passes beneath said scoring blades, and further rotateafter said cutoff blade severs the ice thereby forming ice cubes.
 2. Themachine according to claim 1, wherein a horizontally disposed actuatingarm is provided on said frame at said one and said other end thereof,said pump including a hydraulic lever arm for actuating said pump assaid lever arm contacts either of said actuating arms when said carriageis moved to either end of its horizontal path.
 3. The machine accordingto claim 2 further including means on said carriage for holding said iceblocks firmly within said carriage.
 4. The machine according to claim 3,wherein said holding means comprIses a movable rod horizontally mountedto said carriage top, cable means for moving said rod and lock means forlocking said rod against said ice blocks.
 5. The machine according toclaim 3, wherein an ice chute is provided for said cutoff saw blade fordirecting the ice cubes formed by said cutoff saw blade away from themachine.
 6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein means are providedon said frame above said cutoff blade for stabilizing the formed icecubes on said cutoff blade during the process of being severed.
 7. Themachine according to claim 6, wherein said stabilizing means comprises aplurality of finger plates pivotally mounted at one end on said frame.